National Aviation Day 2012

Aviation Day is celebrated on the 19th of August each year. It is commemorated to honor Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright, the two brothers who were instrumental in inspiring a change of transportation for man.

Facts about National Aviation Day:

• The day gets recognition in the United States of America as a federal event but hasn’t received the status of a public holiday yet.
• To promote awareness about the contributions in Aviation history, Aviation Day is celebrated across select schools in the US. Students are asked to discuss and compare aviation scenarios and are given information about aviation history.
• Some schools also organize field trips where students are taken to aviation museums or the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
• In order to remember the achievements of aviation community, people buy, sell and manufacture Aviation Day goodies like mugs, t-shirts, greeting cards etc.
• It was due to President Franklin Roosevelt that Aviation Day was commemorated in the month of August. This tradition started back in 1939.
• Orville and Wilbur are credited with building airplanes that could be steered. Orville was the pilot for the first flight that stayed airborne for 120 seconds at a height of 120 feet. This experiment took place at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
• The Wright Brothers are remembered for their contribution to the aviation fraternity on December 17th every year as well.
• Aviation Day does not have an official symbol that is used to promote the Aviation Day. However, the Wright Brothers, airplanes, industry workers like pilots and other aviation – industry related pictures have been used to symbolize the day.